The Calgary Flames have made a significant roster move, placing forward Justin Kirkland on waivers with the expectation he will be assigned to the American Hockey League if he goes unclaimed by another NHL team.
Potential Call-Up Candidates
With a vacancy now open on the NHL roster, attention turns to the Calgary Wranglers, the Flames' AHL affiliate. Two names immediately surface as potential replacements for Thursday's game against the San Jose Sharks.
Rory Kerins stands out as the most obvious candidate. The 23-year-old center was an AHL all-star last season, impressed during Flames training camp, and currently leads the Wranglers with an impressive 14 points in just 13 games. While he may not fit the traditional fourth-line mold, his offensive capabilities could provide a spark for a Flames team currently ranked last in the NHL in both goals-per-game and power-play efficiency.
Sam Morton also presents a compelling option for recall. The 26-year-old has been heating up with 10 points over his past eight games in the minors and brings a responsible, two-way style to his game that could suit a bottom-six role.
Kirkland's Struggles After Injury
Justin Kirkland's placement on waivers marks a difficult turn for the 29-year-old forward. After being one of the NHL's feel-good stories last fall, Kirkland has struggled to regain his form following major surgery on his ACL.
Signed this summer to his first one-way contract, the fan favourite known as 'Costco' has dressed for just nine of the Flames' 18 games this season, registering zero goals and one assist while averaging 9:34 of ice time per night. His strongest contribution came in the faceoff circle, where he won 54.6% of his draws.
Roster Implications and Timeline
The Wranglers were scheduled to host the Ontario Reign on Wednesday evening, with any potential scratch of Kerins or Morton serving as a strong indication they would be summoned to the NHL roster.
In additional roster news, defenceman Daniil Miromanov has been reassigned to the Wranglers after being scratched for both games during the Flames' recent two-game road trip to Minnesota and St. Louis.
Both Kerins and Morton have brief NHL experience. Kerins logged five appearances for the Flames last season, recording four assists, while Morton scored a goal in his lone NHL outing.
